Finally, this time, he didn't let his son down.
Although he had long known that it was too late to be a kind father.
Liang Xuguang patted Liang Yuzhou on the shoulder without saying a word, a smile on his lips.
Watching his son's retreating back as he walked away step by step, Liang Yuzhou said in a very soft voice, "I'm sorry, Father."
Forgive him for not being able to return to the Duke's Mansion and be the heir apparent his father had always envisioned, shouldering the glory of four generations.
His voice was so soft that it quickly dissipated in the wind.
Liang Xuguang wiped away his tears with the back of his hand and walked away firmly without looking back.
"It's okay."
His reply also softly faded away in the wind.
...
After the seven - day Buddhist memorial service, the late emperor's coffin was buried in the imperial mausoleum.
In the court, the new emperor ascended the dragon throne.
All the court officials bowed in worship.
Grand Tutor Wen was promoted to the Chief Minister of the Secretariat, taking charge of the six ministries of Personnel, Revenue, Rites, War, Punishment, and Works, on the same first - rank level as Liang Wentao.
He was the first to present a memorial, proposing to reorganize the Gao Family Army and giving specific suggestions.
Part of it would be stationed in the Western Suburb Barracks, and part would be sent to the northern border to be incorporated into Shi Luohan's army.
Lu Sihong nodded in approval.
Liang Wentao, the Chief Minister of the Central Secretariat, was the second to present a memorial. The Gao father and son had supported Lu Siming in rebelling and had already been executed, but the punishment should not extend to their family members.
The Gao family's marquis title should be stripped, and all of them should be sent back to their hometown. They were not allowed to enter the capital without a summons, and their descendants would never be allowed to serve as officials.
Lu Sihong also approved this.
Rebellion and forcing the emperor to abdicate were originally crimes punishable by the execution of nine generations of relatives.
But Lu Sihong always remembered his father's exhortation to be kind and lenient.
Just ascending the throne, he was also reluctant to start a bloodbath.
As for Concubine Lan, she still lived in the palace and was honored as Noble Consort Lan.
Lu Siming was demoted to a commoner and confined in the Chunling Villa.
He had lost a hand and was like a useless person. Lu Sihong didn't want to take his life either.
The third memorial surprised everyone.
Liang Xuguang, who had not attended court for two years, showed up during the new emperor's first official court session.
He was a great hero who had saved the emperor and rushed to the rescue. The court officials all speculated that he would be promoted and receive great glory.
Liang Xuguang heard these discussions.
But he just found them ridiculous.
In the Great Zhou Dynasty, no one with a different surname could be made a prince. He was already the head of the four dukes, in command of 200,000 troops, and there was no higher honor for him.
All the fame, fortune, and glory were just passing clouds.
His memorial stunned everyone.
Liang Xuguang, the Duke of Jinning, a warrior who had been in the military for more than thirty years, the number one general of the Great Zhou Dynasty, and a famous figure with outstanding military achievements, voluntarily requested to resign from all his official positions and hand over his military power. From then on, he only wanted to be a wealthy and idle person.
Once, he was the one who cared most about his dignity, reputation, and family glory.
Now, his only hope was to spend the rest of his time cultivating the younger generation of the Liang family well.
To select an adopted son who could inherit the title of the Duke's Mansion.
Lu Sihong looked at the memorial. For a moment, he was very reluctant.
Liang Xuguang was only in his early fifties, in the prime of his life.
On the night when Lu Siming forced the emperor to abdicate, he had appeared at a critical moment and was still as brave and invincible as ever.
He could still guard the Great Zhou Dynasty for another ten years.
But Lu Sihong also knew that in a peaceful era, his reputation of being too powerful would inevitably spread.
The conflict between the monarch and his subject would become more and more prominent.
Liang Xuguang was a sensible and open - minded person.
In this regard, he was more perceptive and far - sighted than Qin Feng and the Gao father and son.
Lu Sihong approved his request.
Until the court session ended, none of the court officials saw the figure of the Prince Rui.
The Prince Rui was also a great hero who had assisted the new emperor in ascending the throne. There was no reason for him not to be rewarded.
But Lu Sihong knew that on the night he ascended the throne, his great - uncle had already taken off the python - robe of a prince.
He still wanted to be that carefree Taoist priest Qiu.
And Liang Yuzhou and Wan Chu would also leave.
No one would accompany him to the end.
Now, he was all alone.
He was the emperor. He had everything, but he also lost a lot.
Except for Mianmian.
...
After the new emperor ascended the throne, there were many complicated matters.
The Empress Dowager moved to the Shoukang Palace, and the queen moved into the Yukun Palace.
The late emperor had not many concubines. Except for the Empress Dowager and Noble Consort Lan, there was only one Noble Grand Consort, two Grand Consorts, and three Grand Concubines left.
They all moved out of their respective palaces and moved into the more peaceful and serene Taining Palace.
And the new emperor had no concubines except the queen.
The already sparsely - populated harem seemed even more desolate.
Now, the harem could truly be called "the six palaces are empty".
When Lu Sihong returned from the court and just entered the Yukun Palace, he saw Cheng Simian vomiting non - stop.
Shuyi was holding a spittoon and serving her to rinse her mouth.
Qiluo was gently patting her on the back to relieve her discomfort.
"Mianmian, do you have a stomachache again? Why didn't you call the imperial physician?"
Shuyi and Qiluo exchanged a look and couldn't help but want to laugh.
Cheng Simian waved her hand at the two of them. "Go out first."
Lu Sihong held her hand, his face full of worry.
Looking at the dark circles under his eyes, Cheng Simian felt a twinge of heartache.
As the new emperor, he had just finished dealing with the late emperor's funeral, and then he had to handle the complicated court affairs and formulate plans for the upcoming reform.
He could only sleep for two hours every day.
"Your Majesty must be tired. I've stewed black - bone chicken ginseng soup in the small kitchen. Have a bowl."
Lu Sihong wanted to get angry but was reluctant to lose his temper with Cheng Simian, so he could only frown tightly.
"Mianmian, in private, we are an ordinary couple. If you keep calling me 'Your Majesty' and yourself 'your humble servant', do you want to torture me?"
Cheng Simian didn't expect him to care so much about such a small detail in the address.
Lu Sihong cared more than she did that the relationship between the two of them would change substantially with the change of their identities.
The faint sense of insecurity in her heart disappeared.
"Lu Sihong, do you want to have a bowl of the chicken soup I stewed?"
"Of course I do. My wife cooking in the kitchen for me is exactly what I've been longing for."
Cheng Simian smiled and snorted. "I didn't cook it specially for you. I just wanted to drink it."
The black - bone chicken ginseng soup was served.
Lu Sihong took a sip. "Did you put too much vinegar? It's a bit sour."
"Well, I've been really fond of sour food lately."
Lu Sihong glanced at the small table on the couch.
On it were a stack of dried apricots and a plate of sour jujube cakes.
There was also a greengage in the tea she was drinking.
His hand trembled, his heart pounding. When he opened his mouth, his voice was also trembling.
"Mianmian, are you pregnant? Am I going to be a father?"
Cheng Simian looked into his trembling pupils and smiled sweetly. "It's almost two months now."
"Almost two months. That means..."
Was Mianmian already pregnant when he was still the crown prince?
His throat tightened. He hugged Cheng Simian tightly, wishing he could meld her into his very being.
But he was also afraid that his rough movements would hurt her abdomen.
For a moment, he was at a loss.
It was Cheng Simian who hugged his waist.
"So, Wan Chu risked her life to replace you..."
"Yes, she saved our child. She had never been a mother, but she made a decision as great as that of a mother."
Lu Sihong heaved a deep sigh. He didn't dare to think about the danger of the night when Lu Siming forced the emperor to abdicate.
"How much kindness do we, as a couple, owe to Wan Chu and Liang Yuzhou?"
In Yun Shen Alley.
The small courtyard was almost empty.
The winter in the capital was too cold. Song Wanchu missed the warm and humid wind in the south of the Yangtze River.